Combination spark screen and draught curtain for fireplaces



April 1, 1952 L. A. STRETZ, 2,590,903

COMBINATION SPARK SCREEN AND DRAUGHT CURTAIN FOR FIREPLACES Filed Dec. 9, 1947 Fig. m

L awrente A Srre r2 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION SPARK SCREEN AND DRAUGHT CURTAIN FOR FIREPLACES 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ventilated closures for open front fireplaces and has more particular reference to a combination structure embodying a spark arresting screen, and a draft regulating curtain.

Briefly and from a broad structural point of view, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a self-standing frame which is preferably ornamental in character and which is adapted to surround the marginal edges of the fireplace opening, said frame being provided with a fixedly mounted screen which spans the opening, and there being a spring wound curtain mounted in the frame and operable in con junction with the screen.

The principalobject is to provide a structure which is provided with a hand adjusted fireproof curtain which is of a size and type to completely span the fireplace opening and whose lower end is adapted to be drawn down and close to the floor so as to be some two or three inches from the hearth thus immediately creating a draught that will start a fire going, with fairly heavy wood, and almost sufficient to get the fire under way without requiring any kindling whatsoever.

Another object of the invention is to provide a framework equipped with a screen and rollable curtain in combination, the curtain being on a spring wound roller and .the'movable lower end thereof being liftable and lowerable for the aforementioned strong draught creating possibilities and further adjustable to any intermediate position desired.

Another object of the invention isto provide a structure of the type under consideration with 2. readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view observing the structure from the insideout, that is, as it would be seen from the fireplace looking out into the room;

Figure 2 is a bottom edge view of the structure seen in Figure 1; 7

Figure 3 is a perspective view on a small scale showing the curtain lowered to a draught controlling position; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which an end portion of the roller of the curtain is mounted in the frame.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals-it will be seen that the frame is of inverted U-shaped form and is of fireproof metal or equivalent material and emor without a screen but characterized by a curt tain whereby to permit the latter to .be lowered to a position to wholly cover the entire fireplace opening, thus obscuring the charred wood and other accumulated trash, to prevent excess burnt wood odors from escaping into the room after the fire has dwindled to a near extinguished state, and to prevent warm air from escaping from the room into the fireplace and up the chimney, just in case the damper in the fireplace is still open.

More explicitly, the invention is; characterized by an ornamental frame which is adapted to stand by itself and to fit firmly against the marginal edge portions of the fireplace structure around the opening, said frame including .a cowllike hood in which the spark arrester, screen and associated rollable draft regulating curtain function singly and in combination.

Other objects and advantages will become more bodies horizontal and vertical members which are channel-shaped in cross-section. The inner flanges of said frame serve to set firmly against the wall structure providing the fireplace, that is, the wall W. The aforementioned cowl-like portion or hood is also U-shaped and is denoted by the numeral 6 and the horizontal and vertical members thereof are of right-angled cross-section and the two complements 5 and 6 cooperate in making up an entity denoted as the frame structure 1. Incidentally, the walls of the hood 6 are provided with a multiplicity of perforations B which'serve as ventilator-holes. It is obvious that a device of this type is subject to over-heating if the draft curtain is not properly adjusted and for that reason the holes 8 or other ventilating facilities will have to be pro vided as a safeguard. 'It is noted, too, that the shape of the hood 6 is such that it defines an opening 9 which substantially conforms in shape and size to the regular opening in the fireplace. Also, the lower or basal portions of the vertical portions of the frame and hood combine to render the over-all frame structure self-standing. The inboard marginal edge 5 of the inbent walls or flanges of the hood portion 6 are bent laterally as at [0 (see Figure 2) and further bent to de fine tracks which extend vertically and which are also channel-shaped in cross-section. Secured permanently to the inner flanges I I of the tracks is the spark arresting screen l2 and this is a fixedly mounted part. The screen, which is taut, completely spans the opening 9 and also the opening in the fireplace.

I now call attention to the fireproof, draft regulating curtain, this denoted by the numeral 13. It is mounted on a spring included roller structure whose journals it are in turn mounted in L-shaped or equivalent brackets IS in the upper corner portions of the hood 6, as brought out in Figure 4. Thus, the curtain is very much like an ordinary window shade or blind and is pulled down against the tension of a spring and when released is Wound on the roller or drum by way Of the spring which is included in the roller (the spring and drum structure not detailed). The lower portion of the curtain which may be described as the usual hem i6 and which ordinarily contains a stick or. the like, is here provided with metal cylinders I! containing plungers. The outer ends of the plungers serve as friction shoes l3 and ride in the tracks l9 as shown in Figure 2. The inner ends of the plungers are laterally bent into finger grips 20 which are spaced apart and held apart by a coiled spring 2!. The spring obviously serves to push the plungers out and co-engage the endportions i8 friotionally with the tracks. Consequently, the curtain s pulled down to whatever level is desired and then the grips 28 are released and th spring 2! forces the plungers into frictional engagement with the tracks and the cur tai'n is thus held in a fixed position. By pressing the finger grips 29 together against the tension of'the spring 2!, the curtain-may be allowed-to 9 roll up to an cult-of-th-way 'pesitioni'n an obvi'-' ous fashion. I

The .de'vic'e do'es'not fasten permanentlyto the fireplace but is simply' a portable frame structure, screen and curtain-assembly and'it'is so made that it is ornamental and fits snugly against the marginal edges of the fireplace opening. It is sufiiciently heavy to'stand in place by itself and is also sufiiciently light that it may be moved to an out-of-the-way position when not in use. Only the draught curtain moves up and down, the screen being fixed and all parts of the device are made of suitable fireproof materials.

It is a matter of common knowledge that fireplaces have advantages and disadvantages, that ordinary three-part folding and collapsiblescreens are not practical in assisting in firestarting and are also apt to be knocked over and furthermore, do not prevent smoke and gases from escaping into the room." With the structure herein shown and described, it is believed that it will overcome virtually all of the disadvantages presently met in currently styled fireplace screens.

Reference is had now to the." finger grip or bracket 22 which is fastened to'theframe 5 and which is adapted to accommodate a fireplace poker or the like 23 to assist in moving the screen, when hot, to a position to wholly or partly uncover the fireplace opening.

While it would appear that the frame structure could be alternatively and aptly described as a U-shaped hood bordered by an outstanding U-shaped frame, it has been found desirableto describe the frame as such with the inboard orinner peripheral edge portion carrying the bulge ing hood or cowl. Thus, the cowl is ofiset in such a' manner that its interior surfaces are completely and unobstructively accessible from the reverse side of the over-all frame structure. This greatly assists the manufacturer in stamping and forming the frame structure with the reverse bends defining the channel tracks. In addition, the tracks and interior surfaces of the hood are readily available from the reverse or rear side.

of the structure for assembling and attaching the fixed screen to the rearward flanges of the tracks and for installing the draft curtain and brackets, fitting the edges of the curtain into the tracks and so on. It follows that a structure is thus devised in which manufacturers and users will find their essential needs fully met, contained and effectually available.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings Will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A portable closure and draft regulator for an open-front fireplace comprising an inverted U-shaped cowl-like hood embodying companion horizontal and vertical members, said members being right angular in cross-section, roller mean: mounted for rotation within the confines of the upper horizontal member of said hood, a fireproof draft regulating curtain mounted for operation. on said roller, a pair of vertically disposed spaced parallel curtain guiding and retaining tracks mounted on the interior surfaces of the vertical members of said hood, said members being provided with a multiplicity of ventilating apertures, and a complemental inverted U-shaped bordering frame embodying horizontal and vertical channel-shaped members attached to and projecting laterally and outwardly beyond the corresponding horizontal and vertical members LAW'RENCE A. STRETZ.

REFERENCES Ci'ilii) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 920,423- Briggs May 4, 1909 1,402,892 Reinl Jan. 10, 1922 1,726,854 Mumford Sept. 3, 1929 1,923,424 Dailey Aug. 22, 1933 2,015,485 Lindberg Sept. 24, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 329,058 Great Britain May 15, 1930 

